Alphonse Mellot, Sancerre BLANC "Cuvee Edmond"

Named after Alphonse Edmond, the father of present owner of Alphonse Mellot, this is the top wine of this impressive estate. It is produced from some of the estate’s oldest vines which are around 100 years old and situated on Kimmeridgian marl and limestone soils. This cuvee is fermented and aged for 11 months in wooden vats and new demi-muid barrels before bottling.

Tasting Notes: Pale gold yellow in color with light green sheen – brilliant, bright and clear – a young honest appearance. A rich majestic nose. All is rich, ripe and powerful, whether it is fruity or floral. Density, depth and balanced graceful “majestic nature” are established from the outset. Honey, vanilla, lemon, brioche etc., follow each other as if in a daydream, all orchestrated through a new woody tone .

Opening it makes it welcoming and tender with crisp plants revealing aniseed, menthol, liquorice and spices. A gluttonous, rich and virile nose. The effect is extensive, lively and gluttonous, ideally balanced between being highly well rounded and agreeably crisp. Smoothly rounded it gives full measure in establishing liquorice and aniseed, lime and vanilla, pepper and Muscat. The long spicy and woody finish is carved in flint.

Winery: Domaine Alphonse Mellot
Appellation: Loire Valley, Sancerre
Average age of vines: Almost 100 years old
Farming Methods: Organic - Certified | Biodynamic
Maturation: 11 months in wooden vats and new half-hogsheads, end of maturing en masse for at least 12 months
Soil: Kimmeridgian marl and limestone soils
Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
Vineyard Orientation: South - Southwest
Vineyard Size: 7 hectares

Wine	Scores	Downloads
Alphonse Mellot, Sancerre BLANC "Cuvee Edmond" 2018	95 Wine Enthusiast Now mature, this wine balances crisp citrus with warm apricot flavors. It is smooth and intense, with a texture that merges gracefully into the ripe fruits. The wine is ready to drink now. Organic and biodynamic. — Roger Voss	Bottle Image Label Image Shelf Talker Tech Sheet
Alphonse Mellot, Sancerre BLANC "Cuvee Edmond" 2019	94 Vinous The 2019 Cuvée Edmond is an outstanding Sancerre, but it has a price tag to match. It is already drinking beautifully with its ripe apple, white stone fruit and subtle savory characters enveloped within its succulent, round and concentrated core. The conclusion is a delight with a chalky coating covering the entire mouth and a fine line of tension weaving the wine together. 93+ Wine Advocate Compared to other whites, Mellot’s 2019 Sancerre Edmond is definitely from another world of thinking and winemaking. The nose indicates a more “natural” approach since it is more generous in its autumn-like fruit aromas (from dry old vines in fact) as well as more oxidative and phenolic. However, as it takes in more air, the purer and finer the wine becomes. On the palate, this is a pure and finessed as well as rich and intense Sancerre with a very long and complex finish. I wouldn’t say this is enormously powerful, but it is pretty powerful and truly intense in all dimensions. The intensity and richness is combined with mineral structure, fine tannins and a sustainability coming from the soils. This wine has enormous energy and is, in the end, a great one and with lots of iodine. 14% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted in January 2022.	Bottle Image Label Image Shelf Talker Tech Sheet
Alphonse Mellot, Sancerre BLANC "Cuvee Edmond" 2020	93 Vinous The 2020 Cuvée Edmond hails from a seven hectare, south-west-facing plot sitting on kimmeridgian marl. Partially fermented in barrel and partially in wooden tanks, this is not Sauvignon as you know it – it is a wine led by texture not aromatics. Expect a succulent and silky Sancerre that is rich and concentrated. There’s a cloud of nectarine fruit that blossoms in the mouth before concluding with an almost tannic structure. The only minus is that the alcohol feels a little warm on the finish, detracting from the pleasure at the end, which is reflected in my score. Otherwise, outstanding.	Bottle Image Label Image Shelf Talker Tech Sheet
Alphonse Mellot, Sancerre BLANC "Cuvee Edmond" 2022	96 Vinous Put in bottle a week before tasting, the 2022 Sancerre Cuvée Edmond is a precise, focused, concentrated and energetic wine. It’s shy aromatically, but in terms of structure, it is pure and refined and keeps on going, offering excellent momentum. The 2022 leaves a firm, chalky finish that confidently holds the mouth.	Bottle Image Label Image Shelf Talker Tech Sheet